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Delta Increases Order for New Airbus Jets, Engines

Delta Air Lines has ordered 37 more Airbus A321ceo aircraft, exercising the option in its late 2013 order for 30 of the twin-engine narrow-body aircraft. With the deliveries due to start next year, the order extends to CFM International, the jet-engine manufacturer that will supply its CFM56-5B engine for the new aircraft.

The jets will be the “current engine option” of the A321, which incorporates a stretched fuselage to the standard A320. That series of jets is due to be updated with a new aerodynamic design and other changes, including a choice of CFM LEAP 1-A or Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines.

The merger of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines in 2010 left the combined firm with a large Airbus fleet, in particular A320 and A330 series aircraft, which it has expanded in subsequent years.

The new A321ceo jets will be added to 126 other CFM-powered A319 and A320 aircraft in the Delta fleet: recently, the airline took delivery of its first Airbus A321 and is using the aircraft to gradually replace older jets being retired from its fleet.

CFM International is a joint venture of GE Aviation and Snecma, a Safran division, formed in 1974 to build and support the CFM56 series of turbofan engines. The engines are high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines with a thrust range of 18,500 to 34,000 pounds-force. GE Aviation produces the high-pressure compressor, combustor, and high-pressure turbine, and Snecma manufactures the fan, gearbox, exhaust and the low-pressure turbine. Both partners assemble the engines in their respective plants.

In addition to the new engines for the 37 aircraft, Delta’s order includes a five-year Material Support Agreement (MSA).